Help Needed - New User's Guide

Post by **SavaTheAggie** » Sun Sep 19, 2004 7:08 am

I'm interested in doing some research into possibly setting up a 'New User's Guide' here on Classic-Castle.com.

Now, since I am one of this website's founders and designers, I don't have much of an objective and unbiased view on the goings on around here. That being so, I'd love to get some input from the members here, both new and old.

So what do I need?

From the older/more experienced members here:

Answers to questions like:

"What part of the website should I visit first?"
"What part of the website is the most helpful in building ideas/techniques?"

Please also add any of your own questions and insight to this short and meager list.

From the newer members here:

I'd like some questions that you would have liked to have had already answered before you learned the hard way (or still don't know!)?

Stuff like:

"What are the things I shouldn't do on the forum?"

And of course, all the other questions you'd like to add.

Thanks in advance for the help! With enough responses, we'll have enough for a very thorough New User's Guide.

--Anthony

DarkMage · Post by **DarkMage** » Sun Sep 19, 2004 7:38 am

Can someone tell me how to obtain an avatar? I heard there's a gallery of avatars somewhere, except I don't know where on the site.

If we have pictures/photos ourselves, how do we insert them?

Green Fox · Post by **Green Fox** » Sun Sep 19, 2004 7:56 am

I am unsure where I stand, but here is:

New User's Guide: FORUM. V 1.1

1. What should I do first when I join?
Go to "Announcements" and fill in the Poll Thread. You can make a "Hi, I'm new" topic if you want.

2. Do I need to post MOCs?
We would like to see your creations, but you don't have to.

3. What's that thingy under my avatar?
That is your rank. It grows the more you post.

4. So I just post loads and I get a good rank?
No. We would rather you posted small anounts of clever, constructive ones than loads of basic ones with nothing to say.

5. Where's the off-topic forum?
Not here. This site is completely on-topic. Try the chat.

6. What's this about a roleplay?
The Classic-Castle Roleplay (CCRP) is a game played on the site. Further info. can be found
http://www.classic-castle.com/events/ga ... rules.html
here. It is reccomended you wait a while before you join, if you want to.

7. Some people have strange titles?
Moderators and Administrators are allowed custom titles, and can bestow custom titles to others. Just don't ask them for one!

8. How do I get an avatar?
Go to your profile (click the "profile" at the top) and scroll down to the bit that says" avatar control panel". At the very bottom is a button that says "show gallery." Click it and enjoy.

SOME GENERAL RULES THAT I CAN'T FORM INTO QUESTIONS:

1. No swearing, vulgarities, mail order brides etc. The Admins. have the power to ban people.

2. As said before, there is nothing wrong with calling a MOC "cool", many people like to hear that. But try to be constructive, especially with criticism.

3. Try not to take things too seriously. Most (all?)things said are in good jest.

4. Try to visit the chat every so often.

5. REMEMBER WHAT THE FORUMS ARE FOR!
NOTE: These are very simple descriptions.
Administrative; issues regarding the site.
Lego Castle Sets: discussing official castle.
Castle MOCs: things you have built.
Castle customs: things you have made that involve custom parts, like stickers.
Gaming: the RP, really.
Stories: castle-themed stories.
Displays: discussing 'Fests.
Real Castles: real castles and medieval things, in general.
General Lego: discusing general lego topics, and other themes.
Announcements: are you new or leaving? Post here.
Buy/sell/trade: self-explainatory.
Publishing: the deserted desert of forums. Duscuss photo editing techniques and fancy PC stuff I don't understand.

6. BE NICE!

More coming soon!

DarkMage · Post by **DarkMage** » Mon Sep 20, 2004 10:11 am

Sorry, but I can't see anything in my profile about an avatar control panel.

HELP!!!

kajo163 · Post by **kajo163** » Mon Sep 20, 2004 1:45 pm

Altgough I do'nt consider my self a beginner:D, I would like an answer to a little problem:
How do I shrink a file on my computer (the pic-files are usualy about 200kb) down to 10??

-Joel

Green Fox · Post by **Green Fox** » Mon Sep 20, 2004 4:30 pm

DarkMage wrote:Sorry, but I can't see anything in my profile about an avatar control panel. HELP!!!

It's below the "date format" option.

Jojo · Post by **Jojo** » Mon Sep 20, 2004 5:49 pm

Hello!

kajo163 wrote:Altgough I do'nt consider my self a beginner:D, I would like an answer to a little problem:
How do I shrink a file on my computer (the pic-files are usualy about 200kb) down to 10??

Open the file with a picture editoring programme (like Microsoft Photo Editor).
Then simply safe it as follows
file -> save as... -> [name of your choice].jpg and while doing this there should be an option "more" or something like that that allows you to change the JPEG quality factor. Set it at 80%. That's still a good enough quality for simple internet use of an image and it reduces the file size enormously.

If you don't change the name of the file the existing file with its 200KB will be overwritten. If you want to keep the original file change the name or change the folder where to store the new file with the same name.

Bye
Jojo

This probably belongs in "Publishing" rather than in "Administrative".

Post by **Formendacil** » Mon Sep 20, 2004 5:52 pm

Jojo wrote:This probably belongs in "Publishing" rather than in "Administrative".

Well, this IS about a New User's Guide, which is a part of the administration of this site, so I don't see anything particularly wrong about it.

And if one of our almighty tyran.... er.... Divine, Noble, and Generous Leaders says that it belongs here, then it OBVIOUSLY does.

Post by **Bruce N H** » Mon Sep 20, 2004 10:24 pm

I think that Jojo meant, correctly, that Joel's actual question and Jojo's answer more properly belonged in "publishing". Of course, the suggestion of adding questions such as Joel's to a new user's guide properly belongs in this thread under "admin".

Bruce

kajo163 · Post by **kajo163** » Mon Sep 20, 2004 10:53 pm

Hey, thanks Jojo, I'll try that, now all I need is a good picture...':D'

-Joel!

Post by **Troy** » Tue Sep 21, 2004 8:10 am

I'll just point out that the purpose of this thread is what would like to see IN the new user guide. It is NOT to ask specific questions. If you need help with something, please start a new thread in the appropriate forum.

Troy

doctorsparkles · Post by **doctorsparkles** » Wed Sep 29, 2004 5:15 am

Green Fox wrote:1. What should I do first when I join?
Go to "Announcements" and fill in the Poll Thread

I'd like to second this one. I like to know who I'm talking to, so it would be great to encourage new members to fill this out.